Off-shore gas flare line, and anchor and float therefor



July 14, 1959 R. J. DODGE 2,894,269

OFF-SHORE GAS FLARE LINE, AND ANCHOR AND FLOAT THEREFOR Filed May 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Roef/ L1 floc/ye INVENTOR.

ATTOR/Vf) July 14, 1959 R. J. DODGE 2,894,269

OFF-SHORE GAS FLARE LINE, AND ANCHOR AND FLOAT THEREFOR Filed May 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Faber z 4/. Doe/ye INVENTOR.

United States Patent Q OFF-SHORE GAS FLARE LINE, AND ANCHOR AND FLOAT THEREFOR Robert .1. Dodge, B ellaire, Tex assignor to Buoys, Incorporated, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application May 4, 1956, Serial No. 582,791

1 Claim. (Cl. 9-8.3)

The invention relates to an elf-shore gas flare line, and an anchor and a float therefor, and it concerns more particularly, in combination with an off-shore gas flare line comprising a pipe extending from a point below the surface of the water to a point above it, means for anchoring the pipe and for supporting it in substantially vertical position comprising an anchor flexibly connected to the lower end of the pipe and a float surrounding the pipe and connected thereto intermediate its ends, below the water line.

In 'ofl-shore drilling operations it is necessary to burn waste gas from wells, and it is desirable to position the resulting flare at some distance away from the drilling platform. This involves providing a pipe for conducting the gas from the well to a point above the surface of the water, which may be 100 feet deep, for example.

It is an object of the invention to provide, in combination with an off-shore gas flare line comprising a pipe extending from a point below the surface of the water to a point above it, means for anchoring the pipe and for supporting it in substantially vertical position.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with an ofl-shore gas flare line comprising a pipe extending from a point below the surface of the water to a point above it, means capable of yieldably supporting the pipe in substantially vertical position whereby the pipe may be deflected away from its up right or vertical position, and may assume an inclined position, upon being struck by a passing boat or other object, and is capable of righting itself quickly after being so deflected.

Another object of the invention is to provide an offshore gas flare line, and an anchor and a float therefor, which are resistant to the action of wind and waves.

Another object of the invention is to provide an offshore gas flare line, and an anchor and a float therefor, which are capable of being towed on the surface of the water.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an off-shore gas flare line, and an anchor and a float therefor, which are characterized by their simple, rugged construction, and which may be fabricated at comparatively low cost.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an off-shore gas flare line, and an anchor and a float therefor, embodying the invention, showing the apparatus in its vertical position as it appears when erected;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the anchor and moorings shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the gas flare line, and the anchor and the float therefor, showing the apparatus 2,894,269 Patented July 14, 1959 in its horizontal position as it appears while being towed on the surface of the water.

Referring to Fig.1 of the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally an off-shore gas flare line, which advantageously may be arranged to conduct waste gas as produced from wells some distance away from the well or wells producing it, preparatory to burning the gas. In its erected position, a portion of the gas flare line 1, as hereinafter described, extends vertically from a point below the surface of the water, which is indicated by the numeral 2, to a point above it.

The vertically extending portion of the gas flare line 1 consists of a mast-like structure comprising a plurality of sections 3 of pipe or tubing, which are connected end to end. The several sections 3 are of progressively increasing diameter, the intermediate sections being of larger diameter than the end sections whereby the structure is reenforced against bending in the middle. The mast-like structure comprising the pipe sections 3 may be additionally reenforced, as by an open frame-work surrounding it, if desired.

A burner tip 4 is connected to the uppermost section 3. A ladder 5, which is attached to the upper sections 3, extends upwardly from the surface of the water 2 to the burner tip 4 whereby access may be had to the burner tip4. 1

The lowermost section 3 is anchored as hereinafter described, and a float, which is designated generally by the numeral 6, surrounds and is connected to an intermediate section 3, below the water line, whereby the portion of the gas flare line 1 comprising the sections 3 is maintained in substantially vertical position at all Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the float 6 comprises a vertically disposed cylinder 7, which is closed at its ends and is divided by a plurality of transverse partitions 8 into a plurality of air and water ti ht compartments 9. The cylinder 7 is arranged concentrically with respect to one of the sections 3, to which it is connected, and the section 3 is flanged at its ends whereby it may be connected to an adjacent section. The cylinder 7 is reinforced against bending in the middle by a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal ribs 10, which are connected to the inner wall of the cylinder 7.

The float 6 may be of any desired construction, and may be made of inherently buoyant material if desired.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ears 11 are connected to the lowermost section 3 for engagement, respectively, by a plurality of chains 12. The chains 12 are each connected to an anchor as hereinafter described, which is desig nated generally by the numeral 13.

The moorings above described permit the portion of the gas flare line 1 comprising the sections 3 to be deflected away from its upright or vertical position while preventing it from being rotated about its axis.

The anchor 13 comprises a box-shaped casing 14 having an upper buoyant section 15, an intermediate ballast section 16 and a lower skirt section 17.. The buoyant section 15 of the casing 14 consists of an air and water tight compartment having a plurality of openings, each provided with a cap 18, in the top and sides thereof whereby the compartment may be flooded with water to submerge it. The ballast section 16 is filled with concrete. The skirt section 17 extends downwardly below the ballast section 16 for use in supporting the anchor 13 on the bottom of the body of water.

The lowermost section 3 is in fluid communication with a flexible conduit 19. The flexible conduit 19 is connected to one end of a pipe 20, which is built into the anchor 13. The pipe 20 is bent intermediate its ends, and the ends thereof extend outwardly from the top and one side, respectively, of the anchor 13. One end of the pipe 20 is connected to a pipe 21, which rests upon the bottom of the body of water and which is supplied with gas from the well or wells producing it.

Referring to Fig; 5* of the drawing, the sections 3 are shown in horizontal position, supported in part by the float'6 and partly by the buoyant section 15 of the anchor 13, which during the towing operationmay be pivotally and removably connected to one of the sections 3a An important feature of the invention is the ability of the mast-likestructure comprising the pipe sections 3 to maintain itself in substantially vertical position, and to; right itself quickly uponbeing deflected away from its vertical position. The ability of the structure to right itself depends in part upon the buoyancy of the float 6, which exerts an upward pull on the upper portion of the structure while the anchor 13 exerts a downward pull on the lower end thereof. The buoyancy of the float 6 is partially offset by the Weight of the pipe sections 3, as well as by its own weight, and best results are obtained in a structure which is characterized by its relatively light weight and its absence of mass. The ability of the mast-like structure comprising the pipe sections 3 to right itself is also a function of the distance of the center of buoyancy from the center of gravity; the center of gravity being located ata point near'tlie lower endof the structure, which is connected to the mooring means as above described. The distance of the center of buoyancy from the center of gravity is increased in proportion to the tension which is applied to the moorings, as compared to the weight of the mastlike structure. When such distance is relatively great, as it' iswhen the water is 100 feet deep, for example, a considerable force is required in" order to deflect the structure away from its vertical position.

The invention may be modified in various ways with out departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

In combination with an ofl-shore gas flare line arranged to conduct waste gas as produced from wells some distance from the well or wells producing it, preparatory to burning the gas, a portion of the gas flare line consisting of a rigid mast-like structure comprising a pipe which, in its erected position, extends vertically from a point below the surface of a body of water to a point above the surface of the water, an anchor adapted to rest upon the bottom of the bodyof water, the anchor including a buoyant section consisting of an air and water tight compartment capable of being flooded with water to submerge it, mooring means flexibly connecting one end of the mast-like structure to the anchor in closely spaced relation thereto, the mooring means being rela tively short as compared to the length of the mast-like structure whereby the mast-like structure is movable pivotally, in the vertical plane, about its connected end, a float connected to an intermediateportion of the mastlikestructure, the position of the float with respect tothe mast-like structure being such thatgwhen the gas flare line is in use, the float is fully'submerged andthe'arrangement being such that thefloat, acting uponthe mast-like structure in conjunction with the mooringmeans, is capable ofsupporting the mast-like structure in substantially vertical position. I

References Cited in the file ofthis: patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 424,544 Donnelly Apr. 1, 1890 1,087,112 Fiedler Feb. 17-, 1914 2,369,533 Cohen Feb. 13', 19.45 2,399,656 Armstrong; May 7, 1946 2,819,476 Dodge Ian. 14, 1 958 

